In recent months Mexico passed new climate change legislation which provides for the launch of an emissions trading scheme, with an initial pilot phase starting in early 2019, to be followed by full implementation from 2022.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s government has been consulting the public and stakeholders on the proposed Zero Carbon Bill, which will set a target of net zero emissions by 2050. It will also set into legislation a long term commitment to transition New Zealand to a low carbon, climate resilient economy.

New Zealand Minister for Climate Change, Hon James Shaw, says (external link) the more than 15,000 public submissions received show strong support for climate action.

“The vast majority of respondents want New Zealand to do everything we can to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, and offset the remainder, to reach ‘net-zero’ emissions by 2050”, the Minister says.

Draft legislation to implement the Zero Carbon commitment will be introduced into the New Zealand parliament in 2019. The discussion document on the Zero Carbon Bill is available here (external link).

New Zealand and Mexico are both members of the Carbon Neutrality Coalition, a group of countries committed to developing long-term low-greenhouse gases emission and climate resilient development strategies.